As the forest closed in around them again, something felt different. This time, Samantha wasn’t stumbling in the dark. They had purpose, a reason to keep pushing forward. There was no more guessing—just determination grounded in truth and an unwillingness to let Pablo disappear without a fight.
They pushed on, the cliffs still hidden ahead. Samantha’s flashlight shook slightly in her grip. Without warning, a heavy mist began to creep down from the higher ground—thick and cold, wrapping around their legs. Soon, even nearby trees turned to shadows. Everything ahead faded into a blur.
In minutes, the world narrowed. Their lights barely cut through the fog, and the forest became a maze of shifting gray. Samantha strained her eyes, but the shapes ahead refused to stay solid. Unease grew in her gut. If Pablo was around anywhere, they might walk right past him.
The group started stumbling—tripping on roots, slipping in the wet undergrowth. Samantha heard someone cry out in pain. Flashlights jerked in confusion, voices rising in panic. It felt like the woods were swallowing them whole. What began as a mission was unraveling into chaos around her.